Some buds are bursting already but for the vast majority, it’s still a bit early, so it’s hard to see exactly how many have not survived. Another 6-8 weeks will tell.

The biodegradable guards have not fared well. They were starting to look very weathered when I saw them in early January, and some have completely collapsed. 6 of them will need immediate replacement with another dozen on the way out. Those that are still standing are in decent shape as far as protection goes, but they will not last another winter and possibly not even through the summer. Some (around 80) have been well chewed.

Moles have been busy too. 13 trees have enormous molehills at their bases. The trees themselves still appear alive but then the activity is very recent so it’s hard to tell. We will need to return with a spade to dig around them and see.

In addition to the collapsed degradable guards, there are 23 spiral guards on trees here and there. They are not part of the planting plan, but they will either need new tubes or else they may succumb to deer.

The site was visited again and the molehills were dug out. It is difficult to tell if the trees have been damaged below ground as the spoil was still very fresh. They all appeared fine. The degradable guards that had collapsed were replaced with new degradable guards, but in time they will no doubt also succumb to the elements and fauna and so we should monitor these carefully.